What Does "This Card Cannot Be Used for This Transaction" Mean at PayPal in 2024?
Seeing the message "This card cannot be used for this transaction" can be confusing and concerning for PayPal users. This error indicates there is a problem processing your card that is preventing the transaction from going through.
In 2024, PayPal will screen over 1 billion transactions for potential fraud. While frustrating, a card decline due to suspected fraud shows PayPal‘s systems are working to protect users.
Here is a detailed guide on the main reasons your card may be declined and how to get your transaction approved.
Why Does PayPal Decline Card Transactions?
There are several key reasons why PayPal may not accept your credit or debit card:
Suspected Fraud
PayPal has advanced AI and machine learning systems that analyze transactions for signs of fraud. Some signals PayPal looks for include:
High-risk location – Transactions from countries with elevated fraud rates may be blocked. For 2022, countries with the highest ecommerce fraud rates were Egypt (29%), Nigeria (27%), and South Africa (24%).
Unusual activity – If your account has not had international transactions before and you suddenly make a large overseas purchase, it may trigger a block.
High-risk merchant – PayPal maintains lists of merchants and websites associated with fraud. Transactions with these merchants get declined.
Account standing – Brand new PayPal accounts are considered higher risk. PayPal may limit transactions until you build a history.
Incorrect Card Details
If you make a mistake entering any card information like the number, expiration date, CVV or billing address, PayPal will not be able to verify the card and process payments. Always double check you enter card details accurately.
Expired Card
PayPal will decline any card that has already expired. Make sure to update your card details and expiration date before the card expires to avoid disruptions.
Issues at Card Provider
Problems like IT outages or maintenance at your bank or card issuer can temporarily prevent PayPal accessing your account to process payments. The issue is not with PayPal systems.
Exceeding Limits
PayPal sets limits on how much users can send or receive based on account history and verification. If your transaction exceeds your limit, your card will be declined. Upgrade your account to remove limits.
Unverified Account
To remove restrictions, PayPal requires identity verification for certain actions like sending money overseas. Complete any requested verification steps to lift limits.
Here is a summary of the main reasons PayPal may decline your card and solutions:
| Decline Reason | Solution |
|---|---|
| Suspected fraud | Contact PayPal to prove legitimacy |
| Incorrect card details | Double check and enter details correctly |
| Expired card | Update card expiration date |
| Issues at card provider | Contact your provider |
| Exceeding limits | Upgrade account to lift limits |
| Unverified account | Complete identity verification |
How to Fix a Declined Card on PayPal
If your card is declined, here are some steps to troubleshoot and get your transaction approved:
Contact your card provider – The first step is to call your bank or card issuer and check there are no blocks or issues on their end.
Carefully re-enter details – Log into your PayPal account and carefully re-enter all card details to rule out typos.
Try another card – Attempt the payment with another confirmed card. This verifies the issue is with your original card, not your PayPal account.
Update expired card – If your card has expired, update the details and enter the new expiration date.
Complete verification – If PayPal has requested identity verification, urgently complete any steps so you can lift limits on sending or receiving.
Remove and re-add card – Deleting old card details and entering the card again can help if information is outdated.
Use alternate funding – Try using your bank account, PayPal balance or another payment method instead of the declined card.
Contact PayPal support – If you cannot identify the issue, contact PayPal‘s customer service team for troubleshooting help.
Prevent future declines – Going forward, maintain your account in good standing and stay under limits to avoid declined transactions.
With some troubleshooting, you can identify and resolve the issue that led to your card being declined. PayPal‘s fraud prevention measures aim to protect users, so work with customer service if your legitimate transaction gets flagged.
